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Collina: “Moreno should have been sent off for Shaw challenge”

UEFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina admits Hector Moreno should have been sent off after breaking Luke Shaw's leg. PSV defender Moreno escaped without punishment after the tackle in which Manchester United left-back Shaw suffered a double leg break. Moreno went on to score the equaliser in PSV's 2-1 Champions League win and was named man-of-the-match, much to United's fury.

Moreno won the ball in his challenge before doing the damage with his follow through. But Collina says UEFA are now determined to make players aware that “getting the football is not everything.” He said: “If you see the clip of PSV and Man Utd when Shaw was heavily injured, leg broken, the defender played ball and legs. On the field of play, nobody reacted because what was perceived even by players on the pitch the ball was played and this season the thought of many if the ball is played it’s not even a foul. We need to make people even the football community aware that if we want to protect the safety of the player, even challenges on the ball but very risky in terms of endangering the safety of the opponent can be punished, should be punished. (Getting the) football is not everything, safety counts more than the football itself. If you look at life speed, nobody reacted, not one single player, everyone saw the ball going away. If you see in slow motion, you can see that the ball was hit by the knee of the defender and the other leg hard on the legs, that is certainly serious foul play, that should’ve been punished. Even if you read the comments after the game there was a wide debate and different positions, based on images. If you want to protect the safety of the players, there are two ways. Convince the players not to take the risk and be strong in punishing challenges that can endanger the safety of an opponent”.